Welcome to my blog. Astronomy is a fantastic hobby. I started off with just a passing interest, but now it's never far from my mind. My earliest posts were all about observations, but now, I write about all sorts of astronomy related topics. Please feel free to comment, or subscribe to receive an email when I add a new post. Enjoy, and thanks for reading.

Sunday, 26 April 2015

Prep for Astrocamp is underway!

Good afternoon!
It's been a busy week or so since my last session, and at the moment, it's quite tricky to determine where the next one is going to come from. But, that doesn't stop me preparing for the next one. I've had a look at the records of my sessions for the last couple of years and done a bit of research into what is visible from the UK in the night sky during April/May. There sure is masses to go after. Indeed a whole universe awaits! With an eye on Astrocamp during the second weekend of May, I have decided to compile a target list for the weekend. Ultimately, the great British weather is going to have the last say, but should there be opportunity of observing, it will be nice to have something to go with. All these targets are ones that I have not had the chance to observe as yet, and will be all new for me. They cover a variety of object types from clusters to nebula to galaxies. I suppose the important thing is though. not to get too obsessed with the list. I dare say during the weekend, many familiar targets will be visited too. So, without further delay, here's my list. Let me know what you think!

Constellation

Magnitude

Catalogue No

Name

Object

Best Time

Bootes

9

NGC5466

Globular Cluster

Camelopardalis

6.9

NGC1502

Next to Kembles
Cascade

Open Cluster

All night

Camelopardalis

8.9

C7/NGC2403

Spiral Galaxy

All night

Canes Venatici

6.2

M3

Glob Cluster

All night

Canes Venatici

8.9

M94

Spiral Galaxy

All night

Canes Venatici

9.1

M106

Spiral Galaxy

All night

Canes Venatici

9.8

NGC4631

Whale Galaxy

Edge On Spiral Galaxy

All night

Cassiopeia

7.1

C10/NGC663

Open Cluster

23:00 onwards

Cassiopeia

8

NGC281

The Pacman Nebula

Emission Nebula

23:00 onwards

Cassiopeia

6.5

NGC654

Open Cluster

23:00 onwards

Cassiopeia

7.9

NGC659

Open Cluster

23:00 onwards

Cassiopeia

8.5

NGC7790

Open Cluster

23:00 onwards

Cassiopeia

18.3

IC1805

Heart Nebula

Emission Nebula

23:00 onwards

Cassiopeia

6.5

IC1848

Soul Nebula

Emission Nebula

23:00 onwards

Cephus

3.5

IC1396

Elephants Trunk
Nebula

Emission Nebula

All night

Cephus

8.1

C1/NGC188

Open Cluster

All night

Cephus

6.8

C4/NGC7023

Iris Nebula

Reflection Nebula

All night

Cephus

6.1

NGC7160

Open Cluster

All night

Coma Berenices

10

M85

Lenticular/Eliptical
Galaxy

22:30

Coma Berenices

11

M98

Spiral Galaxy

22:30

Coma Berenices

1.8

Melotte 111

The Coma Star Cluster

Open Cluster

22:30

Coma Berenices

9.7

NGC5053

Globular Cluster

Coma Berenices

9.2

NGC4725

Galaxy

Cygnus

5.5

M39

Open Cluster

23:30 Onwards

Cygnus

7.4

NGC6910

Rocking Horse Cluster

Open Cluster

23:30 Onwards

Cygnus

8.8

NGC6826

Blinking Planerary
Nebula

Planetary Nebula

23:30 Onwards

Cygnus

5.2

NGC6871

Open Cluster

23:30 Onwards

Cygnus

8

NGC6883

Open Cluster

23:30 Onwards

Cygnus

7.4

NGC6888

Crescent Nebula

Emission Nebula

23:30 Onwards

Cygnus

12

NGC7008

Fetus Nebula

Nebula

23:30 Onwards

Cygnus

8

IC5070

Pelican Nebula

Emission Nebula

23:30 Onwards

Cygnus

9.6

C12/NGC6946

Fireworks Galaxy

Spiral Galaxy

23:30 Onwards

Cygnus

7.2

C19/IC5146

Cocoon Nebula

Refection Nebula

23:30 Onwards

Cygnus

4

C20/IC7000

North American Nebula

Emission Nebula

23:30 Onwards

Delphinus

10.6

C42/NGC7006

Glob Cluster

01:00 Onwards

Delphinus

8.8

C47/NGC6934

Glob Cluster

01:00 Onwards

Draco

M102

Galaxy

01:50

Draco

9.8

NGC6543

Cats Eye Nebula

Planetary Nebula

01:50

Lacerta

6.4

C16/NGC7243

Open Cluster

00:30 Onwards

Lynx

9

C25/NGC2419

Glob Cluster

Before 01:30

Ophiuchus

8.4

M9

Glob Cluster

01:20 Onwards

Ophiuchus

6.4

M10

Glob Cluster

01:20 Onwards

Ophiuchus

7.7

M12

Glob Cluster

01:20 Onwards

Ophiuchus

8.3

M14

Glob Cluster

01:20 Onwards

Ophiuchus

7.5

M19

Glob Cluster

01:20 Onwards

Ophiuchus

7.4

M62

Glob Cluster

01:20 Onwards

Ophiuchus

8.9

M107

Glob Cluster

01:20 Onwards

Ophiuchus

4.2

IC4665

Open Cluster

01:20 Onwards

Serpens

6.7

M5

Glob Cluster

02:30

Ursa Major

9.9

M97

The Owl Nebula

Nebula

All night

Virgo

10.1

M61

Barred Spiral Galaxy

22:30

Virgo

M84/M86/NGC4435/NGC4438

Markarians Chain

Galaxy Cluster

22:30

Virgo

9

M104

Sombrero Galaxy

Galaxy

22:30

Vulpecula

6

Coathanger Open
Cluster

Open Cluster

All night

Vulpecula

5.7 to 8.1

C37/NGC6885

Open Cluster

All night

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Could be a challenge. Only have UHC and OIII filters at 1 1/4 sizes so will need to use them with the BST eyepieces. Hoping to tap a few people with experience for some help and advice whilst i'm there. Not used any filters with the SBT yet. Cheers Jim :-)